Vehicle door handle assembly



July 12, 1949. s, FLORADAY 2,475,951

VEHICLE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed May 20, 1946 INVENI'OPL Bunk r2filfzaka aj 25 9 M MM HTTODNFPI Patented July '12, 1949 VEHICLE DOORHANDLE ASSEMBLY Burton S. Floraday, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to DetroitHarvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationMay 20, 1946, Serial No. 671,079

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a latch assembly and particularly to a latchassociated with attached hub and handle elements thereby to secure acompartment enclosing door in the closed position or to aid the openingthereof. Assemblies of the type described have considerable applicationwith vehicle compartments such as glove boxes or the like.

Generally, the rotation of the hub section is controlled by a lock boltslidable transversely therein in response to the actuation of anadjacent key lock unit to engage an aperture in the enclosing side wallof a stationary sleeve. From the brief description above, it is evidentthat the hub section is necessarily formed with a longitudinal aperturefor receipt of the key lock unit, and a continguous transverse slot inwhich the lock bolt may operate. Heretofore, the hub section has beenformed by well-known die casting processes, which in this instance ismade more dilficult and costly in view of the necessity for accuratelypositioning and subsequently removing a transverse core forming thetransverse slot, as will be readily understood by those skilled in theart.

It is an object of this invention to produce a new and improved latchassembly having a hub section formed with the necessary openings axiallyaligned, the die casting thereof being greatly simplified as a result ofthe elimination of the necessity for a transverse and separable core.

Another object of this invention is to produce a new and improved latchassembly having novel snap fastener means for releasably holding therotatable latch elements in the predetermined open or closed positionsthereby to militate against vibrational movements of the associatedelements.

Not infrequently, it is a desideratum to remove the key lock unit forpurposes of repair or replacement and it is a further object of thisinvention to produce a new and improved latch assembly of the typedescribed providing expeditious means enabling removal thereof withoutdisassembly of the elements; said means comprising a longitudinalchannel through the hub channel in which a simple tool can be insertedto depress the spring tensioned locking disc.

A still further object of this invention is to produce a latch assemblyof the type described having novel features of construction thereby tosimplify manufacture or modification and to enable quiet operationthereof.

Still further objects and advantages will become evident from thefollowing description, and for purposes of illustration but not oflimitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmetary view of the compartment anddoor panel which is sectioned advantageously to show the latch assemblycomprising this invention in the assembled relation. The broken linesillustrate the position of the latch when rotated to latched position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the assembly shown in Figure1, for purposes of clarity elements such as the key lock unit, the lockbolt and the spring clip fastener being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, the key lock unit, the lock washer and bolt being shown inelevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the hub assembly to show the means fordepressing the locking disc in the key lock unit by means of a toolinserted through the elongate channel.

Numerous features of the lock assembly illustrated are well-known tothose skilled in the art and a detailed description thereof isconsidered unnecessary. Sufiice it to say that a formed door panel I 0having a flange II is adapted to abut a similarly disposed flange I2forming a part of the upper wall [3 of a box-like compartment 14ordinarily used in vehicles for purposes of article storage or the like.Integral with an intermediate portion of the flange I2 is a formedabutment l5 adapted to be engaged by a hook it extending as part of alatch l! hereinafter described.

A polygonal lug 18 on the end of a hub section l9 fits into a similarlyshaped aperture in the disc body portion 25 of the latch ll effectingthe rotation of the latter with the hub section. The latch I1 is held onto the embossed hub section by means of a washer 2i positioned by a bolt22 threadably engaged with a threaded aperture 23 in the end portion ofthe hub section.

One end of a coil spring 24 bears against the outer surface of the latchdisc 20, the other end abutting a shoulder 25 formed by an annulargroove 26 cut out of the periphery of a sleeve member 21 in which groovethe coil spring operates; said sleeve member 21 forming a part of 3 thedoor panel and encloses the hub section l9. It is manifest that the coilspring 24 operates to tension the adjoining elements thereby to militateagainst rattling or excessive vibrations thereof.

The hub section l9 having a handle 28 integral therewith which extendsbeyond the door panel l0, may be formed by simple die casting processeshaving suitable grooves and apertures therein formed by axially alignedcores or ribs, thereby advantageously to expedite the manufacturingprocess, it being understood that the elimination of transverse coresgreatly simplifies the heretofore more complicated and costly castingprocess as previously pointed out.

An aperture 29 extends a considerable distance into the forward portionof the hub section l9 forming a sleeve section 30, the outer edge of thesleeve section being cut away to form a concentric groove 3| of largerdiameter in which the head 32 of a cylindrical key lock unit 33 seatswhen the lock unit is socketed in the sleeve section 30. Longitudinalgrooves 34 in the wall of the sleeve section receive the tumblers 35 ofthe lock unit which are extended when the key 35 is withdrawn therefrom,insertion of the key into the key slot effecting alignment of thetumblers, enabling the rotation of the cylindrical lock unit in relationto the enclosing hub sleeve section.

The key lock unit socketed in the hub sleeve is held therein by anarcuate spring tensioned locking disc 3'! yieldingly urged outwardlybeyond the periphery of the lock unit by a coil spring 38, the extendingdisc operatively engaging an annular groove 39 formed in the sleevesection. Manifestly, depression of the lock disc 31 enables longitudinalmovement of the lock unit and the removal thereof for purposes of repairor replacement. Novel means, later to be described, are provided forexpeditiously effecting the removal.

A cup-shaped adapter 40 in juxtaposed relation to the end portion of thelock unit 33 has a groove 4! in the upstanding edge to provide a bearingin which a pin 42 depends eccentrically from the lock unit operativelyto transmit the rotational movement of the latter unit to the adapter.Other grooves in the upstanding edge provide a seat for a leaf spring 43(Figure which serves to retain the adapter 40 within the handle when thelock unit is not in place.

Contiguous with the lower portion of the aperture 23 is a transverserectangular groove 44, the end portions of which are intercepted bylongitudinal grooves 45 and 45 formed in the lower periphery of the hubsection, thereby to provide a continuous transverse rectangular slotthrough the hub section in which the lock bolt 41 can slidably operate.The rectangular lock bolt has a groove 48 therein providing a bearingoperatively to engage an eccentric pin 49 depending from the adapter 40'thereby to transmit the rotational movement of the latter to transverselinear movement of the lock bolt. Pin 49 operates in a semi-circulardepression thereby to limit the rotation of the adapter to less than180. A groove 5!] is provided in the adjacent stationary sleeve 2'! forreceipt of the lock bolt when extended, preventing the rotation of thehub section in relation to the stationary enclosing sleeve.

Longitudinal groove 5| in registry with groove 46 is formed on the innersurface of the sleeve section 30, and provides a channel through which apin or simple tool 52 may be inserted from the inner side of theassembly to depress the spring 4 tensioned locking disc 31, enabling theremoval of the key lock unit as previously pointed out.

A further important feature of this invention resides in the use of aspring clip fastener 53 formed of a strip of spring metal having adownturned flange 54 at one end and a V-shaped tongue 55 at the otherend, the flanges being suitably spaced from each other to firmly seatthe spring clip in the transverse groove 44. In the assembled relationthe edge of the V-shaped tongue is urged beyond the periphery of the hubsection thereby to bear against the side wall of the enclosing sleeve21. Shallow grooves 56 and 56a suitably formed in the sleeve 21 areengaged by the V-shaped end 57 of the spring clip when the hub sectionis rotated to either the open or closed positions, the forces necessaryto effect their disengagement being suflicient to insure retentionthereof until external forces are applied disturbing the relation. It isto be understood that modification of the edge portion of the springclip fastener may be effected without departing from the spirit of theinvention, for example knobs or curved contours may be formed thereon toaid operation.

It will be readily understood that until the lock bolt 41 is in theextended position, the handle and the hub section may be rotated throughan angle of approximately to effect the engagement or the disengagementof the latch hook l6 from the abutment l5, thus permitting opening andclosing movements of the door panel l0. When it is desired to lock thedoor panel in the closed position, key 36, inserted into the key lockunit 33, effects withdrawal of the tumblers 35 enabling the lock unit tobe rotated in relation to the enclosing hub sleeve section, thereby toeffect transverse movement of the lock bolt to the extended positioneffecting the engagement of the same with the sleeve groove 50, thus toprevent further rotational movement of the hub section as previouslydescribed.

It is manifest that I have produced a new and improved latch assemblyhaving a hub suitably formed with apertures which are all axiallyaligned, resulting in a unit which is easier and less costly tomanufacture. Means are provided for effecting the removal of the keylock unit Without the previously necessary disassembly operations, andother simple means are provided for yieldingly holding the handle andhub elements in the open or closed position.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction,arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from thespirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A handle element for a locking handle having a cylindrical bodyportion, a cylindrical bore in said body portion open on one end andhaving a rectangular transverse slot at the opposite end, the ends ofsaid transverse slot being open, and a pair of longitudinal slots beingprovided in the outer periphery of said body portion in longitudinalalignment with said bore and intersecting the ends of said transverseslot.

2. In a latch having a hub and handle rotatably mounted in a stationarysleeve and a key operated lock bolt slidable transversely in an aperturethrough the hub for engagement or disengagement With a bolt receivingaperture in the sleeve, a spring clip rotatable with said hub and havingan edge portion constantly urged into engagement with the sleeve wherebythe hub and sleeve are frlctionally held against relative rotationalmovement.

3. A latch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring clip extendsthrough the aperture in which the key operated lock bolt is slidable.

4. A latch as claimed in claim 3, in which lip portions in the springclip in the portion extending beyond the hub engage the side walls ofthe hub to prevent relative transverse movement, and recessed portionsin the hub receiving the edge portion for releasably positioning the hubin predetermined positions.

5. A latch assembly comprising a stationary sleeve, a handle, a hubfixed to said handle and rotatable in said sleeve, said hub having acentral bore and a rectangular transverse groove at the base of the boreintersected at its ends by a pair of diametrically opposed rectangularslots arranged axially in the periphery of the hub forming together arectangular slot extending transversely through the hub, said hub alsohaving an annular groove contiguous with an intermediate portion of saidbore and a longitudinal slot extending from one of said rectangularslots to intersect said annular groove, a latch bolt slidabletransversely in said rectangular slot, a key REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,339,721 Shaw May 11, 192011,654,149 Teich Dec. 27, 1927 1,714,423 Jacobi May 21, 1929 1,747,383Norviel Feb. 18, 1930 1,916,848 North (I) July 4, 1933 2,019,534 HenstNov. 5, 1935 2,141,748 Hansen Dec. 27, 1938 2,201,957 North (II) May 21,1940

